Piano tuning-pin



(No Model.)

J. S. THO'RPB. PIANQ TUNING PIN.

Patented Sept. 9,'1890- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES S. THORPE, OF VATERBURY, CONNECTICUT.

PlANo'TuNING-PIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 436,163, datedSeptember 9, 1890. Application filed October 14, 1889. Serial No.326,958. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES S. THORPE, of Waterbury, in the county of NewHaven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement in PianoTuning-Pins; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken inconnection with accompanying drawings and the letters of referencemarked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same,and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, andrepresent, in

Figure l, a view in elevation of one form which a sectional tuning-pinembodying my invention mayassume, and showin g also a section of thepiano-frame and one end of the piano-string; Fig. 2, an enlargedsectional view through the sectional tuning-pin.

My invention relates to an improvement in tuning-pins for pianos, theobject being to produce a durable and efficient tuning-pin adapted to besubstituted without any change in the piano-frame for the ordinarytuningpin and to be manipulated with an ordinary lVith these ends inView my invention consists in a sectional tuning-pin having a studprojecting from the piano-frame, a rotative cap set over the said stud,and means for locking the cap to the stud in anyposition of rotationthereupon.

My invention further consists in certain details of construction andcombinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed outin the claims.

As herein shown my improved pin consists, in part, of a stud having itslower end adapted to be driven into a piano-frame A and provided withlongitudinal ribs or corrugations B, by which it is held against turningtherein, and having its upper end provided with a tapering bearing C andwith a longitudinal threaded bore D. A stud so constructed may be driveninto the holes formed in a piano-frame to receive the ordinarytuning-pins and in place thereof.- If desired, however, the studs may beformed integral with the piano-frame in case the frame is made of metal,or they may be otherwise adapted to be driven into it and held againstrotation. A cap having at its lower end a barrel or sleeve E, upon whicha pianostring F is wound, and at its upper end a square andslightlyltapering head G to receive the tuning-key, is provided with alongitudinal tapering opening H, adapting it to be set over the taperingbearing C of the stud upon which it is rotated to wind the string F uponthe barrel. A small hole I, formed in the lower edge of the head of thecap, is provided to receive the end of the string, which thereby getsits initial grip upon' the pin. The cap is locked upon the stud in anydesired position of rotation thereupon by means of a screw J, whichpasses through it and enters the threaded bore in the stud, the outerend of the screw having a slotted head, which bears upon the end of thecap.

It will be readily understood that by loosen ing the screw the cap maybe turned on the stud to wind the string upon its barrel or to unwind ittherefrom, and so 'increase or decrease its tension as the tuning of thepiano may demand. As soon as the string has been brought to the tensiongiving the desired tone, the screw is turned down upon the upper end ofthe cap so as to firmly lock the cap to the stud. Inasmuch as the studcannot turn in the piano-frame no1' the cap upon the stud when the studand cap are locked together, it is apparent that the piano cannot getout of tune hy any rotation of the stud. Any wear between the cap andthe stud is taken up in their tapering bearing-surfaces, so that longuse of the pin and frequent tuning of the piano will not eiect thepractical value ofthe pin, whereas a pin screwed into the piano-framewears every time it is turned and deteriorates in effective value allthe time without any means for compensation. It is to be noted, also,that my improved pin is manipulated by the ordinary piano-key andrequires no special tools.

l. Asectional tuningpin for pianos, having a stud projecting from theframe and provided at its upper end with a longitudinal threaded bore, acap adapted to be set over the stud and provided with a longitudinalopening, and a screw passed down through the cap into the bore of thestud for looking the cap thereto.

2. A sectional tuning-pin for pianos, having a stud provided with atapering bearing at its upper end, a cap adapted to be set over IOO thestud and to be rotated thereupon and provided at itslower end with abarrel or sleeve and at its upper end with a square head, and

means for locking the stud and cap together, gsubstantially asdescribed.

3. A sectional tuning-pin for pianos, having a stud provided at itslower end with longitudinal ribs or corrugations which hold it againstturning in the piano-frame and having a tapering bearing at its upperend, a cap adapted to be set over the upper end of the stud and to berotated thereupon, and means for looking the cap and stud together,substantially as described.

4. A sectional tuning-pin for pianos, having a stud projecting from the,piano-frame and provided at its upper end with a tapered bearing andWith a longitudinal threaded bore, a cap having a barrel at its lowerend,a squared head at its upper end, a small hole to receive the end ofthe piano-string, and a longitudinal tapering opening adapting it to beset over the tapered bearing of the stud, and a screw for locking thecap to the stud, substantially as described.

JAMES S. THGRPE. Witnesses: f

CHAs. W. GILLETTE, WM. M. GILLETTE.

